Toy submarine



March 16, 1948. F. E. BONNER TOY SUBMARINE Filed Sept. 17, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Frank Ziflonn 21' sum/w,

March 16, 1948. F. E. BONNER TOY SUBMARINE Filed Sept. 17, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 16;, 194 8. BONNER 2,438,031

TOY SUBMARINE Filed Sept. 17, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fran/ 51,5071: 6

Patented Mar. 16, 1948 TQ'ZJSU MARINE.

Frank E. Bonner, Pcntiac; Mich;

Application September 17, 1946, SeriaLNo. 627,4,36,

(Cl.- 4G-94) z-Claims. 1

This invention relates-general y to. t s, an more especially to a toy submarine.

The primary object of my, invention istoprovide a toy submarine for the amusement of children and adults that will submerge realistically and automatically come to the surfac again after sinking to the bottom of the lake, pond, stream or other body of water.

A further object of my invention is to provide a novel ballast tank that will cause the submarine to submerge, bow first, when partl filled with water and a trip device for releasing the water filled ballast tank when the toy reaches the bottom of the lake, pond or stream.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a toy submarine that is simple and economical in construction and highly efiicient and durable in use.

With the foregoing and other objects in view that will appear as the nature of my invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel features of construction, combination and ar rangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which are for illustrative purposes only and are therefore not drawn to scale:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a toy submarine, constructed in accordance with my invention.

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view.

Figure 3 is a central longitudinal section.

Figure 4 is a vertical transverse section, taken on line 5-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a rear end view of the ballast tank.

Figure 6 is an enlarged detail fragmentary sectional view of the front end of the ballast tank and trip device, and Figures 7, 8 and 9 are diagrammatic views, showing the several steps involved in the operation of submerging and resurfacing.

Referring to the drawings for a more particu lar description of my invention, and in which drawings like parts are designated by like refer= ence characters throughout the several views, A designates my toy submarine, as a whole, and B the hull of the submarine.

In carrying out my invention, the hull B of the submarine is formed with a longitudinal space or compartment 2 to receive the hollow cylindrical elongated ballast tank 3. The ballast tank 3 is thus partially concealed in the hull of the toy submarine and is formed in its rear end 4 with an annular series of; circumferentially,spaced'air outlet openings 5;

The, rear. end pi. heballast tank is suspende fromthestern 6 of. the hulljbythe horizontalfpin T, carried by the transverse supporting bar 8', secured by means of the ears or lugs 9 to the bottom of the hull. The front end of the ballast tank is detachably supported in place by the longitudinally disposed endwise movable rod l0, whose inner end ll extends through a corresponding transverse guide opening l2 in the cross bar [3 fastened to the bottom of the hull and through a corresponding transverse water intake opening M in the front end l5 of the ballast tank.

The front end "5 of the endwise movable rod H1 is bent upwardly at a suitable angle and is secured to the upper end of the dog or link H. Th dog or link I! is pivoted at its lower end, as at i8, to the front end of the Vertical member Iii of the longitudinally disposed angle supporting bracket 20, fastened to the bottom of the hull. The dog I! is formed at its lower rear corner with a right-angularly bent flange 2| to which is welded or otherwise secured the upper end 22 of the downwardly and rearwardly inclined trip arm 23, formed at its lower end with the upwardly curved shoe 24,

In practice, as the ballast tank 3 fills with water, the toy submarine commences to submerge, bow first, in a realistic or natural manner, that is to say, in simulation of the way in which an actual submarine operates, and when the toy sinks to the bottom of the lake, pond, stream or other body of water, the upwardly curved shoe 24 of the trip arm 23 comes into contact with the bed of the lake or other body of water and releases the water filled ballast tank 3, which remains on the bottom while the toy rises to the surface again with the bow emerging first. The several steps involved in the operation of submerging and re-surfacing are illustrated in Figures 7, 8 and 9 of the drawings.

The rear end of the ballast tank is provided with a depending perforated lug 25, to which is attached a string or cord 26 for retrieving the tank in deep water; in shallow or medium water, the tank may be retrieved by hand.

The rear end of the hull is provided with a ring 21, to which is connected a cord or cable 28 for pulling the toy back to the shore or edge of the lake, pond, stream or other body of water, preparatory to re-setting the ballast tank and trip device.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the drawings, it is thought that the construction, operation and advantages of my invention will be readily understood, without requiring a more extended explanation.

Various changes in the form, proportions and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principles or sacrificing any of the advantages of my invention, as defined in the appended claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A toy submarine of the character specified, comprising a hull formed with a longitudinal space or compartment, a partially concealed ballast tank formed in front end with water inlet opening, rear end with air outlet openings, mounted in said space or compartment of the hull, means for removably suspending the rear end of the ballast tank from the stern of the hull and a trip device for releasing the front end of the tank when the toy submerges and sinks to the bottom of the lake, pond, stream or other body of water.

2. A toy submarine of the character specified, comprising a hull formed with a longitudinal last tank from the bow of the hull, and a rearwardly and downwardly inclined trip arm for actuating and releasing said rod from the front end of the ballast tank when the lower end of the trip arm comes into contact with the bottom of the lake, pond, stream or other body of water.

FRANK E. BONNER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Number Thorsheim Aug. 20, 1940 

